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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

Double bed for 4 year old?

21 replies

Pinkvici22 · 07/08/2016 08:41

Is this crazy?

DD has slept in the spare bed (double divan) for the past couple of nights having had a terrible few weeks of waking in the night, not wanting to stay in her bed, wanting to come into our bed and not wanting to be alone. There are no problems with her room/light etc....we've talked at length about this.

DH and I are at the end of our tether having not had a good nights sleep in weeks...is a double bed for her room a crazy idea?

Has anyone done this? What sort of bed?

OP posts:

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flanjabelle · 07/08/2016 08:43

I'm not sure from your post how having a double bed in her room will help? Sorry if I haven't understood, but it sounds more like a separation anxiety phase. I am not sure spending loads of money on a double bed for her room will help unless you are planning to sleep in it with her.

Pinkvici22 · 07/08/2016 08:45

Sorry...I think tiredness is resulting in me making no sense!

I'm just wondering if she's outgrown her bed really - it's a cot bed.

You may be right about the separation anxiety - if so, what's the answer?

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ijustwannadance · 07/08/2016 08:46

Why would you buy another double bed if you already have a spare one? Just let her sleep there until it passes. Has she slept well in it?

MirrorMirrorOnTheFloor · 07/08/2016 08:47

Both my kids moved from cot to small double, as the small double was actually a futon we happened to have already and I felt it was safer as it was hardly any distance to fall if they did fall out (it's on a base, but only about 5cm off the ground). I did have to buy double undersheets which of course don't match the crappy Argos kiddy friendly duvet cover and pillowcase which I let them choose as part of moving to a 'big bed'. But since I don't really care about matching it's fine, I think it makes my mum's teeth itch, though!

In general, I think it works well - lots of room for cuddles / stories/ teddies / books. Only issue for me was buying double rather than single waterproof sheets for night time training was more expensive.

ijustwannadance · 07/08/2016 08:48

Surely if she has outgrown a toddler bed you buy a single?

Ellieboolou27 · 07/08/2016 08:50

My 4 year old dd has a triple bunk, she sleeps well in it and if she does wake up I can get in with her as there is plenty of room for us both in the double bottom bunk. Not sure it would help her sleep through, but a cot bed is quite small and she may be waking due to not having enough space when she's moving during sleep

davos · 07/08/2016 08:52

Both my kids went into doubles rather than singles. I don't see the issue if you have the space.

May not solve the problem though.

Why not move the spare double into her room at first? Is her room further away?

It may be the room, not the bed.

Pinkvici22 · 07/08/2016 08:53

Thanks for all the replies.

I don't want her sleeping in the spare room. It's on the other side of the house and whilst it may just be a phase I'm concerned she may get used to being in there?!

I don't see the point in a single bed - her room is large so we'd be planning to get a double for her as she grows anyway. I just wonder if 4 is too young?

I'm grateful for any other suggestions. If it's separation anxiety I don't know how to overcome it.

OP posts:

Pinkvici22 · 07/08/2016 08:55

I was worried it was the room, but she tells me there's no issue with the room (and she's pretty articulate!).

Maybe it's a combination of not enough room (she's a wriggler so maybe waking when she rolls?), and just wanting to be with us.

We have tried having her in with us, but DH and I literally get no sleep (despite having a King size!)...

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ijustwannadance · 07/08/2016 09:00

But if it was seperation anxiety, surely she wouldn't be happy sleeping at the other end of the house? Has she said her bed is ok if it isn't her room? Has she been off colour? My DD has weeks of restless sleep/ nightmares if under the weather.

If you have the space buy a double. Let her choose new bedding etc.

idontlikealdi · 07/08/2016 09:14

A friend of mine did this. She is still sleeping in it most nights and her son is 9 as it never addressed the sleeping problem in the first place. She has to lie with him to get him to sleep and ends up falling asleep herself...

Cel982 · 07/08/2016 09:18

If you have the room for a double and were planning on buying one in the future, I don't see any reason not to do it now. Why would 4 be 'too young' for a double?

Pinkvici22 · 07/08/2016 09:43

Thanks for all the replies.

I've talked to her again and she tells me she doesn't like her bed, she likes her bedroom, but mostly she wants me or DH with her???

I appreciate what you say and don't want to be in that situation, but how do I "nip it in the bud" now idontlikealdi

OP posts:

RevealTheHiddenBeach · 07/08/2016 09:47

Is it worth popping the spare bed in her room for a week and seeing if she stays in it? Then if she does you know you can invest in a double for her and skip the single bed stage.

ijustwannadance · 07/08/2016 10:05

You just have to keep putting her back into her own bed everytime she gets up. She will keep doing at as long as she gets away with it.
If she doesn't like her bed, buy the new one and make a big deal about her having a special big girl bed and choosing it/bedding etc. Like it's her idea.

HooseRice · 07/08/2016 10:08

My house has large bedrooms. Both my two went from their cot beds to double beds at about age 3.

Can't see the difference to them if room isn't an issue.

Justwanttoweeinpeace · 07/08/2016 10:09

DS has a double bed. He's three. We have the space and it's really lovely to all get in together for story time it when he's sick. Also dead handy to turf him out and use for guests.

If you want it, go for it.

Justwanttoweeinpeace · 07/08/2016 10:12

Sorry 'or when he's sick.'

Also there are loads of nice kids double bed sets in Amazon.

bakeoffcake · 07/08/2016 10:16

If she's saying she doesn't like her bed then yes I'd buy her a double. My dd2 went in a double when she was two.
If your dd still gets out of her bed then at least you or dh can take her back to hers and sleep with her in the double. I'm all for whatever works to all get a good nights sleep.

Pinkvici22 · 07/08/2016 10:38

Thank you everyone. We're going to get a double bed for her - talked to her about it and showed her bedding and she seems excited.

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Justwanttoweeinpeace · 08/08/2016 21:50

Not sure if you've already bought it, but you might want to consider just getting the mattress first and putting it on the floor. Spent this evening 'doing Olympics' with DS and he was having much fun flinging himself off the side of his mattress. I won't buy him a frame until we need the storage space underneath.

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